Dwight Hottle

Here is a couple oldies but goodies. Sevens are sweet but big sixes are only a few ounces from sweetness.

Easy answer for this old dog anything with Clint Eastwood in it.

Nothing wrong with a little fan conviction. That's what sports are all about.

@Flukeflicker I can see your on your high horse this morning. What right do you have as a fisherman to stab a hook through a fishes mouth or jaw? Your liberalism is showing badly. And by the way if the limit in California is five bass he probably has the legal right to kill all five if he so chooses which he did not.

@ Lottabass Al in case you don’t know that is a photo of Butch Brown with a big single days catch. All of those fish were released. Just saying.

If I still had it I would send it your way but it got lost somehow. The fact that Billy Westmoreland holds three places on the top 25 biggest smallmouth ever caught all time including a 10.06 & a 10.00 even plus a big nine lber is part of his infamy. You could always buy it, read it & resell it afterwards.

Them ol’ brown bass by Billy Westmoreland.

Absolutely I would. If it’s a smallmouth record Lake Erie, Lake Ontario or the St Lawrence River can handle the subsequent fishing pressure. That’s where I fish for them. As for largemouth in the state of Florida I have no concerns. The better lakes are all ready hampered by pressure & the constant spraying of vegetation by the powers that be. Besides the state record is 17+ lbs so that is nose bleed territory for most.

The lazy ike was in the classification called banana baits very similar to the old Helin Flatfish. That side to side wobble definitely caught fish including walleye & crappie as well as bass. I think they produced best by changing speed especially with a slow wobble speed.

I have fished in some pretty extreme temps. We had a trip to Bay of Quinte Ontario for big walleye in December. Ice had formed overnight at the dock where we left my boat with the motor in the water. It took about 15 -20 minutes of running time at the dock before the motor was warm enough for the thermostat to open & start peeing. By the time we ran out to our spot to start trolling we noticed the line counter reels were covered in ice from the spray during our run. We had to thaw them from our hot thermos morning coffee. I have found when it gets so cold that you constantly have ice forming in the rod guides it's time to give up the ghost.

I have caught 100’s of lake trout from depths between 50’ to 120’ released them all & never had an observable death. Lake trout burb air bubbles regulating their air bladder as they come up with no trauma to their systems. The guides & camp owners who fish for them from the beginning to the end of the season support this sentiment. I have fished lake Athabasca at the top of Saskatchewan & Alberta for about 13 years where my experience comes from.

Went fishing yesterday on Lake Kissimmee with my buddy Capt. Erik Tilson. It was 38 degrees with 20+ mph winds out of the north. We put in at the south end of the lake decided to head for the north end to find some cleaner water. I ended up with brain freeze from the cold wind in my face without a windshield or face shield. That had to be the longest & coldest ride I have ever taken! Anyhow as you can expect it was a slow day. I had 8 fish total for the day. This was the biggest.

Katie the guys going to Mexico are chasing their DD dream. Your chances of catching a DD are probably better than the US including Florida & Texas. And I know you like to catch numbers as many others do but there are some of us who are only concerned about size not numbers. To each their own.

The longer the better. 7’-6” to 8’. A 1-3 oz swim bait rod works really well if you already have one in either moderate fast or moderate action. One rod serves a duel purpose.

Yes & you can also cast lipless cranks horizontally & wait until they hit bottom & then slow retrieve. You need to mark fish or bait at the depths you want to fish to be the most effective. Fish the depths where your marking hooks or bait only otherwise it could be long day if you pick the wrong depths to target.

I'm going this October to learn at the foot of the masters Big Fish Jeff & his sidekick @A-Jay. My last trip there was a couple years ago during the slump. The lake is fishing well again so it should be a good time. And there is always the possibility of a few new PB's for our group.

If you use a snap to connect it does not make any difference.

Your Toro looks like a jack. Strong fighting fish. Sounds like you really did well considering the short time all in new fisheries.

Isn't that the truth.

X4 Texas Tackle in the smaller size 4.25" long all stainless steel.

My first bass of 2026 on a fluke.

I like BKK Hyperlatch 70-S UL or Owner ZoWire STX-38ZN for blade baits & jerk baits. Mostly sizes 4,5,6 & 8.

What kinda of depth are you fishing? Typically smallmouth will winter deeper than regular depths that they are found at during the rest of the year.

I was not talking about the met DC. I mentioned the 23 Metanium which is a magnesium core solid body per Shimano.

Its called a Metanium same three piece frame as the Bantam but in magnesium.